Car-coupling



(N0 Model.)

W. E. WHITESIDE.

GAR GOIIPLING. v N0. 644,604. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM EVERETT WHITESIDE, OF MIDWAY, WEST VIRGINIA.

CAR*COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming pa1t of Letters Patno N0. 544,604, da/ced August 13,1895.

A Splication filecl Iebruary 28, 1895. Serial N0. 540,116 (N0 model.) I

T0 all whom zlt may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EVERETT WHITESIDE, of Midway, county of Putnam, State of West Virginia, have invented certain now and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplers, of which the following is a speeifieation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce a coupling device for xailway-oars 0f the variety known as twin couplers, whereby. the cars are automatically coupled, and may be unooupled from the sideor top of the ear without the necessity of the operator being subjeeted to the danger 0f being crushed between the cars. v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower front edge 0f a cm With' my car-coupler attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal seetional view of the draw=head. Fig. 3 is a, longitudinal vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a similar view on line 4 4 of Fig.l. Fig.5 is a vertical transverso view on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a ear-body having secured 10 its bottom, as by bolts 2, a draw-head 3, provided with a medial wall 4, definin g parallel casings 5 a.nd 6.

7 indieates a link-bar carried within the casing 5 by a revolubly-mounted transverse shafb 7, upon which it is pivoted, as by avertical holt 8. lt will be seen that by this coustruction the link-bar is vertioally and horizontally movable, movement in either direotion being opposed by springs 9, bearing, respectively, against noses 10 upon the four sides of the link-bar an(l behind the reVoluble shaft. I prefer to employ ordinary fiat springs seeured within the casing, as illustrated; but it is obvious that various other forms might be employed, the object being to re'tnrn the link to its normal position after unuSual strain in any direction is relieved.

Upon the outer end of the link-bar and projecting in front of the drawhoad I provide a longitudinally-adjustable link 12, adjustable upon the link-bar loy any suitable meanssuch, for instance, as a slot 13 in the bar through Which the end of the link is adapted to pass, an l by a prong-key 14 passed through two 0f a numbor of graduated apentures in the bar and straddling the end of the link.

The mechanism (lescribed constitutes what I will call the link side of myeoupler, and I shall now desoribe the mechanism, which cooperates with a similar link side upon another Gar t0 couple the cars together.

15 indicates an aperture in the top of the easing 6, across whieh a longitudinal guidebar 16, that plays within a slot 17 in the pin 18, is secured.

l9indioates a shaft, mounted in suitable bea.rings upon the top of the sill of the oar,

provided with a, erank, ben's, as indicated at;

20, t0 form a depending Support 21, to which the link is pivotally secured a1; its upper end, and with actuating-cranks 22 at its opposite ends, by means of which the link may be raised when io is desired to uncouple the ears.

In order to produoe a coupler which can be practically operated and whereby the coupler may be sei: in such position that the operator need not manipulate any 0f the parts while the cars are being drawn apart, it is neoessary t0 provide means for locking the pin in the elevated position, to acoomplish whicl1 purpose I provide a pivoted latch 23, in operative proximity no one of the cranks 22 and urged in the proper direction to engage there with, when the same is operated to elevate the pin, by a. spring 24, and having an upwardlyextending handle 25.

26 indieates a latoh-bar pivotally seeured to the latch aloove its pivot and extending aeross to the opposite side of the am, where it is provicled with a handle 27.

The op'eration of my doviee is as follows: Supposing that it is desired to couple ca;rs provided with my improved coupler and the parts to be in the position indioated in Fig'. 1, the link being in the depressed position, the link 0f the opposing car enters the easing 6 and, striking the pin, swings it until the end of the link has passed therebeyond, when, as will be seen, the pin will swing back to its normal position, its lowor endpassing through and beyond the link, thereloy effecting the coupling f the parts. It is obvious tha1; the yielding of the link ineither direotion will permit conpling of cars varying in the exact Vertieal 01 horizontal location of their oppos- IOO ing couplers. The train having reached its destination and the uncoupling 0f the ca.rs being desired, it is only necessary to raise either of the actuating-oranks, the pin being elevated out of engagement With the 1ink and the parts being secnred in tlmt position by the latch. \Vhenever it suits the convenience 0E the operator the latch may be withdmwn from engagement with the actuating-crank fron1 either side of the cm throngh either the handle upon tl1e 1atch 01 the connectingbar, allowing tl1e pin to clrop into the proper position for a repetition 0f the coupling operati0n.

I d0 not desire to limit myself to the details 0f eonstruetion herein shown and describerl, but reserve to 1nyself the right 130 n10dify and vary the same at will within lhe scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a draw head, of an intermediately, horizontally and vertieally pivoted bar, a longitudinally adjnstable link securecl t0 the forwarcl extremity of tl1e link bar, opposing springs secured within Lhe draw head in operative proximity to the 1ear ex trexnity of the 1ink bar, substantially as spanified.

2. In a ear-coupler, the combination with a draw head, of a horizontally and vertieally pivoted 1ink bar therein, diametrieally opposite noses upon the rear extremity 013 the link bar behind its pivot, and a plurality of parallel springs secnred at one extremity to the clraw heacl behind tl1e link bar and having their f1ee extremities in operative proximity t0 the noses, substantially as specified.

3. In a cm coupler, the cornbination With w draw bar, 0f a pivoted spring aetuated link bar provided with a sloi; and a series 013 apertures on boil1 sides thereof, a link passing throngh the slot, and prong keys engaging the Qperturesto retain the 1ink in its adjusted positions, substantially as speeified.

4. In a C2Ll coupler, the cornbination With an apertnred draw bar provided with alongi- Ludinal guide bar, of a slottecl pin gnided by said guidebar, and means for raising ancl lowering the pin, substantially asspecified.

5. In a CHI coupler, tl1e combination witha draw head and pin, of a cmnk bar providecl With a crank bent t0 i'01m a depending support for the pin, a spring lateh co-operating with the erank bar, meehanisrn at bobh sides 0f be car for actuatiug tl1e crank bav and latcl1, substantially as specified.

(3. T110 combination with a draw-head, providecl with a medial Wall defining two casings, of n verlieally und horizontally movable link bar in one casing held in its normal position by opposing springs, a link a.dj ustably secnred t0 saicl link bar, a pin in tl1e other casing providedwith a slot co-operating Wilh a gnide bar to gruide said pin, a crank sbafl; provicled With a. crank loosely pivoted to the upper extremity 0f the pin above the drawbar, actuating cmnks upon the opposite ends 0f the crank shafl; located at opposite sides of the 021,1, a spring aetuaterl latch adapted t0 engage one 0f tl1e aetuating eranks, and a latch barpivotally eonnected to the lateh and extending t0 the opposite sir1e of t;he Gar, and handles upon the latch und latch-bar'snbstantially as set forth.

In testimony of all \\'hi0h I have hereunto snbscribed my name.

WILLIAM EVERIIT'I WIII'IESIDE. Wilnesses:

VVORLEY THOMAS, J. T. VVHITESIDE. 

